When Gisela drowned a year ago, she was transformed into a rusalka – a kind of water nymph notorious for drowning humans to avenge their own untimely deaths. And while Gisela hasn’t drowned anyone in her year as a spirit, she has become a chronic nuisance to the local exorcist, Kazik, who sees her attempts to befriend and flirt with the local humans as the opening gambit in a plan to drag them to a watery grave. But when Gisela reveals that she’s trying to get a kiss from a mortal in order to become human again, she and Kazik strike up a deal – he’ll play matchmaker for her, and she won’t let slip to the other spirits that his magic is waning. Despite their rocky relationship, Kazik is determined to do what he can to help Gisela, but unfortunately the mortal she has her eye on is the same boy Kazik has been harbouring a crush on for years.

Reading this book feels like looking at a gorgeous Art Nouveau painting of a water nymph, and then having the nymph come to life and start making jokes – it’s beautiful, surprising and will make you giggle. Alicia Jasinska manages to expertly bring together the lush, fairytale-esque setting with characters that are both funny and relatable – it’s a tough needle to thread in a historical fantasy, but Gisela’s wisecracking and Kazik’s dry humour make the world feel more vivid, rather than undermining it.

I love a book that embraces grey areas, rather than purely the black and white, and This Fatal Kiss brings satisfying nuance to everything, from the queer love triangle to the magical setting, to the ending itself. I’m sure teen and adult fantasy readers alike will be delighted by it! Recommended for ages 13+.